Waits is a New York native who has been active on the jazz scene since early in his life. His father, percussionist
Freddie Waits, died when Waits was 18.[1]
Before pursuing a music career, Waits studied psychology and history at
Morehouse College in Atlanta. He also holds a degree from
Long Island University in music. While he was studying at L.I.U, instructor Michael Carvin secured Waits a spot in the percussion ensemble
M'Boom, started by his father (Freddie Waits) and drummer
Max Roach in 1970.
Waits's longstanding projects include
Jason Moran & The Bandwagon, a trio with Moran, Waits, and Tarus Mateen;[2] Tarbaby, a trio with
Eric Revis and
Orrin Evans;[3] and his band Equality.[4]
In 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused massive flooding in the basement Westbeth studio Waits had inherited from his father in 1989.[5]
In 2020, his group Nasheet Waits By Sea, a quartet with Nduduzo Makhathini, Immanuel Wilkins, Rashaan Carter, opened the Winter Jazzfest’s Manhattan Marathon.[6][7]